Court okays secret Zuma trust vote

Johannesburg, June 22

South Africa’s highest court today ruled that lawmakers can cast secret ballots in President Jacob Zuma’s no-confidence vote. Zuma is facing criticism within the ruling ANC amid corruption scandals, record unemployment and slowing economic growth

Although no date has been set for such a vote, Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng said the National Assembly Speaker had the authority to order a secret ballot in a case brought by the country’s opposition parties.

“The speaker of the National Assembly has constitutional power to prescribe that voting in a motion of no-confidence in the President of the Republic of South Africa be conducted by secret ballot,” the Chief Justice said.

Opposition parties have lobbied for a secret ballot and called for African National Congress (ANC) lawmakers to “vote with their conscience”, but Speaker Baleka Mbete had in April said she had no powers to approve a secret ballot.

The ANC holds a large majority in parliament and Zuma has survived similar votes in the past, which have not been secret. Zuma’s sacking of respected finance minister Pravin Gordhan in March fuelled public anger. — AFP